Wis. Dems: Internal Polls Show Us Winning The State Senate

By Eric Kleefeld

August 2, 2011 8:20 am

Going into the home stretch of the Wisconsin state Senate recalls, state Democratic Party chairman Mike Tate outlined the party’s get-out-the-vote efforts on a conference call with reporters Tuesday — and claimed that the party’s internal polling of the eight races up for grabs shows the Dems favored to win the majority.

The state Senate currently has a 19-14 Republican majority, with Democrats needing to gain at least a net three seats in a backlash against Gov. Scott Walker. (And after that, they hope to recall Walker some time next year.) For next Tuesday, six Republicans will be on the ballot against Democratic challengers, followed the next Tuesday by two more recalls targeting Democratic incumbents.

On the call, in response to a question from Greg Sargent, Tate said of next week’s races: “I don’t know that I would say that we are going to sweep all six races, but our polling tells that we have leads in three of these races and we are dead tied in three.”The three races where the Dems claim to be clearly ahead are the seats of GOP state Sens. Dan Kapanke, Randy Hopper and Luther Olsen. The races that are said to be close are the seats of GOP state Sens. Alberta Darling, Sheila Harsdorf and Robert Cowles.

TPM asked a follow-up regarding internal polls for the two extra races for August 16.

“Our two Democratic incumbents, Bob Wirch and Jim Holperin, are in very, very strong shape,” said Tate. “They are better well known than our opponents, they are better liked than their opponents.”

Tate also added: “The Republican candidates are simply not palatable to the electorate, and our Democratic senators are going to be re-elected.”